As a nationally-influential watershed association, expert in urban/suburban watershed science and the Charles River, CRWA is often called for advice by other environmental groups, as well as to give presentations or seminars at schools and colleges, at conferences, and for community groups. In addition, CRWA makes an effort to be present at many local environmental festivals such as the AltWheels Alternative Transportation & Energy Festival in Boston and the Cambridge River Arts Festival.

CRWA staff – including an urban restoration specialist, outreach coordinator, and watershed scientists and engineers – give engaging talks to a wide spectrum of audiences, and are capable of discussing many river issues, such as the history of the Charles, watershed science, pollution, clean-up efforts, and the impact of development. We focus particularly on school presentations, in attempt to inform students about watershed facts, history, and keeping the river clean. 

In addition to presentations, our outreach efforts help strengthen the work of other watershed groups by providing technical assistance and/or organizational capacity building. From 1996 through 2003, CRWA provided technical assistance and laboratory analyses at no cost to local watershed organizations, community groups, citizens, universities, and high schools. The laboratory analyses were conducted at CRWA's in-house lab, which closed in 2003. Technical assistance we provide includes assisting organizations in the design of water quality monitoring programs, development of Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPP), application of GIS and water quality and hydrologic models, and evaluation of proposed projects and advocacy. We have also advised sister watershed associations on ways to build their organizations through fundraising and membership.

Here are some of the groups and organizations we have worked with in recent years: